Detroit High School Students Selected to Receive Free Tickets to See Michelle Obama

Detroit is of one of only 12 U.S. cities to host former first lady Michelle Obama

LANSING, Mich.—The Michigan College Access Network (MCAN) distributed 100 tickets to select students in Detroit to attend former first lady Michelle Obama’s book tour promoting her memoir, BECOMING.

Students from eight Detroit high schools attended the event: Ford High School, Voyageur College Prep High School, Detroit School of Arts, King High School, Detroit Leadership Academy, Osborn High School, Cody High School and Frederick Douglass Academy. These high schools were selected because they either participate in MCAN’s AdviseMI program and are located in the City of Detroit, or they are highly engaged with the Detroit College Access Network (DCAN).

Obama and Live Nation donated 10 percent of the Detroit event tickets to various organizations, which included MCAN and DCAN.

When asked about why these community tickets are so important to Mrs. Obama, she said:

“It was important to me that all sorts of people could come to the tour events, not just those with means or who happened to be by a computer when the tickets went on sale. That’s why we are giving away thousands of tickets to people around the country, particularly to young people striving to be their best. I want them to see themselves in my story—to see the value in the fullness of their lives and to imagine who they might become in the years ahead.”

The tour featured intimate and honest conversations with Obama, reflective of the extraordinary stories shared in the wide-ranging chapters of her deeply personal book. Detroit high school students heard Mrs. Obama’s firsthand reflections on the experiences and events, both public and private, that have shaped her—from her childhood on the South Side of Chicago to her years as an executive balancing the demands of motherhood and work, to her years spent at the most famous address in the world.

Michelle Obama has emerged as one of the most iconic and compelling women of our era. As first lady of the United States of America—the first African-American to serve in that role—she helped create the most welcoming and inclusive White House in history, while also establishing herself as a powerful advocate for women and girls in the U.S. and around the world.

In candidly recounting moments from her own extraordinary journey, Obama also shared life lessons learned and inspired people to become the very best version of themselves.

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ABOUT MICHELLE OBAMA AND COLLEGE ACCESS

In 2014, while serving as first lady, Obama launched the Reach Higher Initiative, an effort to inspire every student in America to take charge of their future by completing their education past high school, whether at a professional training program, a community college, or a four-year college or university. In 2015, as part of her Reach Higher initiative, Obama created the Better Make Room Campaign, to target Generation Z, young people ages 14-19, to celebrate education, change the national conversation, and reach students directly where they are and give them a space to create content while also navigating the college-going process.

ABOUT THE MICHIGAN COLLEGE ACCESS NETWORK (MCAN)

As the leader in the state’s college access movement, MCAN’s mission is to increase Michigan’s college readiness, participation and completion rates, particularly among low-income students, first-generation college going students, and students of color. For the seventh year in a row, Michigan’s postsecondary educational attainment rate has increased — from 35.7 percent of 25-to-64-year-olds possessing at least an associate degree in 2008, to 39.4 percent in 2015. Additionally, it is estimated another 4 percent of Michiganders have a high-quality certificate, bringing Michigan’s official attainment rate to 43.7 percent as of 2018. It is MCAN’s goal to increase Michigan’s postsecondary educational attainment rate to 60 percent by the year 2025. For more information, visit micollegeaccess.org.

ABOUT THE DETROIT COLLEGE ACCESS NETWORK (DCAN)

The Detroit College Access Network (DCAN) is the coordinating body of cross-sector leaders and organizations in Detroit working together to ensure all Detroit students have the opportunity to attend college. DCAN’s mission is to increase post-secondary readiness, enrollment, and attainment so that all students in Detroit can achieve their educational dreams. DCAN is one of nearly 30 Local College Access Networks in the State of Michigan. For more information, visit detroitcan.org.

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